A record 128 migrants crossed the English Channel in a single small boat on Friday, marking the highest number of people ever carried on one vessel during the dangerous journey from France to the United Kingdom.
According to data released by the UK Home Office, the overcrowded boat was one of three that successfully reached British shores that day, carrying a combined total of 225 migrants. The previous record for the largest number of passengers on a single boat was 125, which was set in September 2025.
Read also: Longer channel crossings put migrants at greater risk
The latest crossing has raised fresh concerns over the increasingly risky tactics being used by people-smuggling networks. A Home Office spokesperson said criminal gangs are becoming more reckless by packing more people into small, unsafe boats to maximise profits.
The spokesperson warned that the vessels being used are often not designed to carry such large numbers, making the journey across one of the world’s busiest shipping routes even more dangerous.
Despite the new record for the number of passengers on one boat, official figures show that the overall number of migrants reaching the UK by small boats has dropped significantly this year.
Home Office statistics show that 11,884 migrants arrived in the UK between January and the end of June. That represents a 41 percent decrease compared with the same period last year, when 19,982 people crossed the Channel.
The latest figure is also 12 percent lower than the 13,489 arrivals recorded during the first half of 2024. However, it remains slightly higher than the totals recorded in the same period in 2023 and only slightly below those seen in 2022.
Officials believe several factors have contributed to the decline in overall crossings. These include changing weather conditions, disruptions to the supply of small boats and equipment, tougher government measures, and changes in migration flows into Europe.
Earlier this year, the UK government strengthened its cooperation with France by agreeing to provide £662 million over three years to support increased beach patrols and efforts to stop boats before they leave the French coast.
The government is also pursuing wider reforms to the asylum system aimed at discouraging illegal crossings and speeding up the removal of people whose asylum claims are unsuccessful.
Although fewer migrants are making the journey overall, the average number of people on each boat has continued to rise. Between January and June, boats carried an average of 65 migrants each, the highest figure recorded so far, highlighting the growing dangers faced by those attempting the crossing.
For more details, visit New Dailyprime
